Good communication skills is something that a lot of freelancers lack, and it will definitely give you a leg up in the freelancing world.

Small things like spelling, grammar, and talking as if you’re a real person instead of a robot copy and pasting a huge wall of text can really make a big difference.

Add

Some

FLAVOR!

Where Should You Freelance?

Now that we’re sure this is something we’re interested in, it’s time to look at the top 5 options.

Fiverr -Fivver is great for small and specific jobs. Most people on Fivver do non-programming related tasks, however, there still is a demand for programming services. If you’re really good at one specific thing, like building chatbots or Wordpress sites, then Fiverr is a great place to start building a portfolio.

Freelancer - Freelancer is one of the oldest platforms out there where coders can pick up work. It’s pretty saturated and has a lot of job volume. The biggest downside is that you have to purchase their “tests” and “certificates” if you want to compete with more established freelancers. I wouldn’t focus my time here unless I had some capital to spend and a proficiency in a field I could get certificates for.

Upwork - If you’re a beginner and just want to get your feet wet, look no further than Upwork. Upwork has a variety of jobs (small to big) that you can take on at your own rate. If you’re just starting, I recommend creating a freelancer account and just browsing the small odd jobs that get posted for things you think you can do. Once you win a contract, it’s very easy to start building a portfolio and bringing in more work.

Guru - We’re getting into the more ‘high end’ jobs now. Guru has a consistent flow of jobs that are more suitable for experienced freelancers or agencies. You can hop on and actually look at the current job postings without making an account to get an idea.

Toptal - By far my favorite platform. The biggest downside is that it’s hard to get in as a freelancer. Toptal works with top companies and only accepts the “top 3% of talent” that applies to them. However, I would still recommend applying even if you think you’re not ready. You can learn from the interview experience and do better next time. Once you’re in, however, you’re a lifetime member of a giant network of extremely skilled engineers and top companies who are willing to pay a high premium for your work.

Each platform has their own ups and downs, and I recommend testing different platforms out to see what works for you.

? There’s only one thing left for you to do… ?

Jump Straight In - Right Now!

Being stagnant has never gotten anyone money or valuable experience.

I spent a lot of time considering my options and telling myself I would “wait until I had more experience” to do things.

Things started changing as soon as I threw that mantra out the window.

Jump in. Head First.

Course correct on the way, and never be afraid to accept a challenge.

Good luck!

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